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Home / The Museum of Mid Century Material Culture / time capsule homes

1962 time capsule house with bold and colorful decorator interiors — Mendota Heights, Minn.

pam kueber - Updated: May 31, 2021

Retro Renovation stopped publishing in 2021; these stories remain for historical information, as potential continued resources, and for archival purposes.

front-entry-doorsTour-a-Time-CapsuleCome on in, plan on staying a while. This 1962 time capsule house recently listed for sale in Mendota Heights, Minn. (metro St. Paul), is one eye-popping wonder. 57 photos available: Yes, just when you think, “Oh my gosh, this is the best room EVER”, you flip to the next slide and it’s immediately clear, golly no, “THIS is the best room ever!” Dear readers, you are just THE BEST community ever for continuing to send these time capsule tips. For this one, thanks go to reader Norma Desmond, who surely was joking when she submitted it with the caveat, “Not sure if this is up your alley or not….” Was she talking to moi? The blogger among all bloggers on a mission to convince the world that wallpaper is not The Devil… and that Big Bold Colors are not his evil handmaidens? “Up my alley?” I am all over every delicious bite. . 22 photos follow — along with a secret link to 57 big photos — all shown with permission listing agents, Tom and Henry Edelstein and with a big hug of a credit to phographer Ben Colvin of Spacecrafting. They know they have one absolutely fabulous home on their hands — and would love to sell it to an adoring fan.

time-capsule-house

The listing description is short and sweet, considering that the photos tell a thousand+ words:

ONE OF A KIND MASTERPIECE IN MAGICAL MENDOTA HEIGHTS, EXQUISITE CUSTOM TOUCHES THROUGHOUT. VAULTED MAIN FLOOR FAMILY ROOM, HIDDEN WET BAR. FORMAL DINING ROOM, SPARKLING SUNROOM, SUNNY KITCHEN. LUXURIOUS OWNER’S SUITE+2 BATHS. 1/2ACRE WITH POND, WATERFALL

Digging in, I see:

  • Four bedrooms
  • Two full and four partial baths
  • 4,473 square feet (including 750 of finished basement)
  • Listed for $600,000

Speaking with agent Henry Edelstein, I learned that this home has been with a single owner since it was built in 1962.

He also told me that originally, the interiors were done by Ted Hanson, a prominent interior designer in the St. Paul area. A number of architectural features in the house came out of prominent St. Paul area buildings, including the old Ryan Hotel and the Brown and Bigelow Estate, Henry said. And, he acknowledges that some of the rooms have been redecorated since 1962. I am not an expert — but I am feeling a lot of  Postmodern / Memphis design influence in the redecorating. And, that kitchen: late ’70s or early ’80s? In either case, nicely done.

On with the show.

zebra-print-carpet

Living room:

red-living-roommonochrome-living-roomNote that Henry says that in real life, the room is red — not lipstick coral pink.

Dining room:

1960s-wallpaper-dining-roomThe dining room is my favorite room in the house. But, you know I’m on a wallpaper binge right now.

Kitchen:

retro-kitchen1980s-kitchen

Den:

retro-man-cave1960s-den

Bedrooms and bathrooms:

mirrored-bathroom1970s-bedroom1970s-bathroomretro-bedroomretro-officememphis-style-bathroomcolorful-bathroomBet those bedrooms and bathrooms made your eyes pop out of your heads!

Basement with bar:

1970s-basement1970s-design-style

Exterior:

backyard-landscapingbackyard-barbecuebackyard-landscaping-retro

What do you think, dear readers:
Would you? Could you?

Link love:

  • Homepage with all listings for Team Edelstein. Phone: (651) 695-4300. THANK YOU, Team Edelstein!
  • Fabulous photos by Ben Colvin of Spacecrafting.

And a slide show:

front-entry-doors
zebra-print-carpet
red-living-room
monochrome-living-room
1960s-wallpaper-dining-room
retro-kitchen
1980s-kitchen
1960s-den
retro-man-cave
purple-bathroom
mirrored-bathroom
1970s-bedroom
retro-bedroom
retro-office
memphis-style-bathroom
colorful-bathroom
1970s-bathroom
1970s-design-style
1970s-basement
time-capsule-house
backyard-barbecue
backyard-landscaping-retro
backyard-landscaping

CATEGORIES:
The Museum of Mid Century Material Culture time capsule homes

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Reader Interactions

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85 comments

Comments

  1. Miri says

    February 7, 2016 at 5:30 pm

    Best. House. Ever! I think the bathrooms are great! Why can’t bathrooms have fancy personalities, too? And mirror is bright and easy to clean. If you don’t wanna see your butt, or, your guests are not aware of how desirable the aforementioned traits are in a bathroom, get a fancy curtain — but there’s no need to remove the whole thing. Spend your money on landscape upkeep instead. That’s the only thing that gives me pause. I love it, but I’d need some names and numbers for its upkeep ahead of time. I definitely couldn’t do it myself.

  2. JoAnn Rowland says

    March 7, 2015 at 6:20 am

    WoW!

  3. Ann B says

    December 23, 2013 at 12:32 pm

    This is my favorite… at least right at this moment, until you post even better houses.

  4. David Noyes Sr. says

    October 23, 2013 at 9:08 pm

    This is a one of a kind as only Ted Hanson could do. Everything old is new again especially when done in the highest quality. Love it!
    David Noyes Sr.

  5. Karen Yeager says

    August 5, 2013 at 11:12 am

    Beautiful in a wild way. Living here would make me nervous though.

  6. KT White says

    August 4, 2013 at 11:39 pm

    LOVE LOVE LOVE all over! That’s the second purple bathroom I’ve seen this week! And until now I didn’t even know there had been purple fixtures like that. Swooooooon!

  7. Modspell says

    August 4, 2013 at 2:19 pm

    I was sold upon seeing the HOUNDSTOOTH carpet! But there is a serious overuse of mirrors that would have to corrected. I’d love a tour, that’s for sure.

  8. JKM says

    August 2, 2013 at 11:48 am

    I could never in a million years live in this house but – WOW – it makes me so HAPPY! I think it’s great!

  9. Nancy P says

    July 31, 2013 at 1:22 pm

    Here’s another great time-capsule house near me in Stone Mountain, GA. I love the kitchen. http://www.kw.com/homes-for-sale/30087-2208/GA/Stone-Mountain/1803-Chartwell-Trace/3yd-FMLSGA-5126127.html

    • Diane in CO says

      July 31, 2013 at 3:01 pm

      Oooooh, I love that Georgia House! Wowee, that is my kind of Mid-Century home — at least that fabulous kitchen/great room with the awesome beam and wood ceiling. The green sink in that one bathroom is bizarre; never seen one like that.

      Thanks for linking the listing. 🙂

      • Allen says

        July 31, 2013 at 4:47 pm

        LOVE this house as well!

    • Toni says

      August 4, 2013 at 5:18 pm

      Yes! I could live in this house. The movie set house? No.

  10. blair kooistra says

    July 30, 2013 at 10:59 pm

    Wow. What a place. I see that entry way and the zebra-patterened stairway and chair railing to the second floor and I can imagine a little old man in a black and grey velour gogging suit, grey sides and brown toupee atop his head, with gynormous gold chains. . .just groovin’ it, bay-bee! Thanks for that!

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